Paes and Groth did it again. Groth was broken in the very first game, which he commenced with a double fault. Then on the second point Paes netted a second overhead. Paes was unusually off, missing volleys and various shots.
But in the second set Paes showed us the real Leander Paes. Perhaps sparked by embarrassment by his subpar play or scattered Come on Leanders from around the stadium, Paes was vintage the rest of the way.
They had Querrey at love-forty in the first game of the second set but squandered the opportunity. But then they suddenly broke Johnson out of nowhere. Paes began making the volleys he was missing and Groth became inspired too, now making his backhand returns from the ad court, instead of missing most helplessly as he did for most of the opener.
I noticed another minute change from Groth as well in the second set. In the first set when he didn’t like his serve toss (two times) he said, “Sorry.” But in the second set when he didn’t like his ball toss (twice also) he altered his apology to “Sorry mate.”
As always in a Paes doubles match there were several crazy points that make you smile in amazement.
Paes and Groth was l0-8 in the match tiebreak. The match point was memorable. Groth thought he hit an ace to Q Ball in the ad court and roared in joy. But Johnson and Q Ball challenged and it was just out by centimeters. Second serve, Groth got it in and Paes made the quick volley winner. After shaking hands, Paes bent over and lifted Groth, all 220 pounds of him, up into the air, just like he did in the previous match.
Paes and Groth, who Paes told Wayne Bryan after, is his 96th career partner, will play Tecau and Rojer in the final.
Alize Lim is still here practicing. I spoke with her about Facing Serena. Also still here is Virginie Razzano.
Donald Young played about as well as he can play and it still wasn’t good enough to topple the Mighty Canadian. Even if DY plays perfect tennis, it still might not be enough.
Pospisil edged Giraldo today. They spilt sets last night but rain postponed the conclusion to this afternoon. The two battled to 4-4 but then Pospisil held and struck for the break 6-4. Pospisil also seems to have a new, different level of confidence like Jack Sock after winning Wimbledon doubles. It may have been the difference today in crunch time. Giraldo has had a very good year, he’s ranked 33, in the world, but when things get tough, Pospisil can always remind himself, “Hey, I’m a Wimbledon champion.”
The Wimbledon champion did it again in the night match, from 0-3 down in the third set, ATP 39 Pospisil, stormed back to beat Gasquet 7-5 in the third. Gasquet beat Pospisil in their previous meeting last year.
Interestingly, Gasquet and Pospisil will meet in the first round in Toronto, in both singles and doubles.
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Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2014 at 11:11 pm
Photo above is just after match point.
Jack · August 3, 2014 at 12:18 am
Wow, an all-Canadian final. Who da thunk it.
Andrew Miller · August 3, 2014 at 12:43 am
Raonic by far best year
gans · August 3, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Leander is awesome. Such good hands at the net. He can start an Academy and do something to revive the net game.
I like Pospisil. Very level headed, talented young man. In tennis world, he isn’t that young though- 24 already. I like his techniques more than Raonic, but he needs to return better to win.
Andrew Miller · August 3, 2014 at 9:20 pm
Dans book has to be on dy and sock.
Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2014 at 8:45 am
Raonic was not a big surprise to final but Pops was by beating Gasquet and Berd. Pops had to have run out of gas at the end, he had tough long matches with Gasquet and Giraldo to make finals and Raonic cruised through.